Who we are

The Organization and Board

Green Incubator [formerly known as Friends of ECOS] is a non-profit educational organization, incorporated as *Friends of ECOS*, a 501-c-3 organization in 1988. It is independent of ECOS [the Environmental Council of Sacramento]. Green Incubator is a volunteer organization with no staff and no offices; it has no members and few expenses. All funds donated to Green Incubator are allocated to worthy environmental projects in our region.

Green Incubator is governed by a Board of Directors led by President Betsy Weiland. Board members are:

Betsy Weiland – President – Betsy was honored by ECOS as a 2005 Environmentalist of the Year for her work on the American River Parkway and habitat issues since 2001. Betsy is volunteer outreach coordinator for Save the American River Association and has served in the leadership of Sierra Club. She is also very active in the California Native Plant Society, leads the American River Parkway Coalition, and is part of Habitat 2020.

Del Tura – Vice President – Over the last 30 years, Del has made many contributions to local environmental organizations, including Audubon Society and Sacramento Area Creeks Council. He was a member of the Stone Lakes Refuge Alliance which lobbied for the creation of the refuge. He always includes invasive plant removal and trash pick-up when he paddles his canoe on the American River. Del retired from the County of Sacramento.

Judith Lamare, Ph.D. – Secretary/Treasurer – Jude Lamare founded Friends of ECOS, the predecessor to Green Incubator, Inc. and has been on the board since. She is President of Friends of the Swainson’s Hawk. She managed the Cleaner Air Partnership for 19 years and was an air quality consultant until her retirement in 2007. She served in the ECOS and Sierra Club leadership for many years.

Ralph Propper – A clean air advocate and chemist, Ralph is President of the Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS), and board member of Breathe California-Sacramento Region (formerly American Lung Association). He was Treasurer of the Air and Waste Management Association, and Director of Professional Engineers in California Government. Ralph retired from the Air Resources Board’s Air Quality & Climate Science research section.

Janis Heple – Janis Heple is a community leader in awareness and control of toxic contaminants of soil and water. She received the Environmentalist of the Year award in 1986 for her leadership of the Sacramento Toxics Alliance. She has been the voice of the environmental community in huge pollution issues such as McClelland Air Base and Aerojet. She has represented ECOS on community water and emergency planning efforts, including on the Sacramento Water Forum. Heple is a member of Habitat 2020.

Kevin McRae – Kevin is an avid amateur botanist, falconer, bird-watcher, naturalist and landscape gardener. He served as treasurer for the Green Incubator for many years. Kevin is a CPA with thirty years of experience as a Certified Public Accountant, including tax and business management consulting.

Sean Wirth – Sean is a Founding member of SOS CRANES, Conservation chair for the Mother Lode Chapter of the Sierra Club, Board member of the Environmental Council of Sacramento and Co-chair of Habitat 2020.

Chris Brown – Chris has more than 30 years of experience in several nonprofits working on environmental-related causes like opposing the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository and opposing toxic waste incineration and nuclear testing. He provides training in water conservation, drought response, on-site rainwater, and graywater harvesting. His current focus is organizing for the climate emergency response for Sacramento.